Military Departments

Question 1

What is the constitutional duty of the military?

Answer 1

To ensure national survival, defend lives and property, and promote vital interests at home and abroad.

Question 2

The military departments consist of

Answer 2

Army, Navy (including the Marine Corps and, in wartime, the Coast Guard), and the USAF

Question 3

What are the three general functions of the US military?

Answer 3

(1) support and defend the U.S. Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic;
(2) timely and effective military action for the security of the United States, its possessions, and areas vital to its interests;
(3) and uphold and advance the national policies and interests of the United States.

Question 4

The specific functions of the Army are to organize, train, and equip land forces for

Answer 4

(1) operations on land, including joint operations; (2) the seizure or defense of land areas, including airborne and joint amphibious operations; and
(3) the occupation of land areas.

Question 5

The specific functions of the Navy are to organize, train and, equip naval forces for;

Answer 5

(1) operations at sea, including joint operations;
(2) the control of vital sea areas, the protection of vital sea lanes, and the suppression of enemy sea commerce;
(3) the support of occupation forces as required;
(4) the seizure of minor enemy shore positions capable of reduction by such landing forces as may be comprised within the fleet organization;
(5) naval reconnaissance, antisubmarine warfare, and protection of shipping.

Question 6

The Marine Corps specific functions are:

Answer 6

(1) to provide marine forces with supporting components for service in the seizure or defense of advanced naval bases and for the conduct of limited land operations in connection in addition to that;

(2) to develop, in coordination with the Army and the USAF, those phases of amphibious operations that pertain to the tactics, techniques, and equipment employed by landing forces;

(3) to provide detachments and organizations for service on armed vessels of the Navy;

(4) to provide security detachments for protection of naval property at naval stations and bases; and

(5) to provide, as directed by proper authority, such missions and detachments for service in foreign countries as may be required to support the United States’ national policies and interests.

Question 7

The major functions of the Coast Guard are to:

Answer 7

(1) enforce or assist in the enforcement of all applicable federal laws on, under, and over the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; (2) engage in maritime air surveillance or interdiction to enforce or assist in the enforcement of the laws of the United States; (3) administer laws and promulgate and enforce regulations for the promotion of safety of life and property on and under the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States, covering all matters not specifically delegated by law to some other executive department; (4) develop, establish, maintain, and operate, with due regard to the requirements of national defense, aids to maritime navigation, icebreaking facilities, and rescue facilities for the promotion of safety on, under, and over the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; (5) pursuant to international agreements, develop, establish, maintain, and operate icebreaking facilities on, under, and over waters other than the high seas and waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; (6) engage in oceanographic research of the high seas and in waters subject to the jurisdiction of the United States; and (7) maintain a state of readiness to function as a specialized service in the Navy in time of war, including the fulfillment of Maritime Defense Zone command responsibilities.

Question 8

The specific functions of the USAF are to organize, train, and equip air forces are

Answer 8

(1) air operations, including joint operations;
(2) gaining and maintaining general air supremacy;
(3) establishing local air superiority where and as required;
(4) the strategic force of the United States and strategic air reconnaissance;
(5) airlift and support for airborne operations;
(6) air support to land forces and naval forces, including support of occupation forces;
(7) air transport for the U.S. Armed Forces, except as provided by the Navy; and
(8) to develop weapons, tactics, techniques, organization, and equipment for USAF combat and service elements, coordinating with the Army and Navy on all aspects of joint concern, including those that pertain to amphibious and airborne operations.

Question 9

The Space Force, within the Department of the Air Force, shall develop concepts, doctrine, tactics, techniques, and procedures and organize, train, equip, and provide forces to perform the following specific functions:

Answer 9

(1) provide freedom of operation for the United States in, from, and to space. (2) provide prompt and sustained space operations. (3) protect the interests of the United States in space. (4) deter aggression in, from, and to space. (5) conduct space operations.